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UNITED STATES PATENT EETGE.

CALVIN E.. TOWN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPQC'ROVEMENT IN OVERSHOES, SANDALS, OR BOOTS.

Specificationy forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,841, datedNovember 12, 1878; application tiled- May 7, 1878.

To all 'whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CALVIN E. TOWN, of Washington, District of Columbia,have invented vcertain new and useful Improvements in Overshoes,Sandals, or Boots; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains tol make and use it,refer'- ence being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specication.

My invention relates to an improvement in overshoes, sandals, rubberboots, Src., the object being to provide such articles with meansincorporated lin the same during the process of manufacture, wherebysuch articles of footwear are prevented from slipping on wet and icysurfaces.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe bottom of a rubbershoe made according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a View of the same withthe outer thread-layer removed. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view ot' theshoe. Fig. 4 is a modification.

The plate A is preferably made of tempered steel, though any othersuitable material may be used. It is interposed between the inner andouter layerspB and C, of the sole, and is made in open-work form, withthe edges of the several openings serratedv or notched and bent at rightangles to the plate. These openings a may be one or more in number, andof any desired form, so 'that the spurs or serrated projectious b mayrun diagonally or in other lines of direction across the tread of theshoe.

Instead of' being in open-work form, the plate might be solid or ofcontinuous surface; and in such case the outer edges of the plate wouldbe formed with the angular serrated projections. v

Instead of the sole, the heel, or both sole and heel, might be providedwith a plate according to the invention. The plate might be placedbetween layers of the sole other than the extreme outer one and itscontiguous neighbor, the only object being to have the plateincorporated into the manufacture ot the shoe, and having its serratedprojections protrude downward, so as to be iiush with thewearing-surface of the tread, where pressure is not exerted on the soleofthe shoe.

.A11 overshoe or like article constructed in the manner as above setforth possesses all the advantages secured by removable icecreepers nowin use, without the attendant disadvantages of the latter, in that theshoes are ready'for use at all times, andthe antislipping qualities areinherent in their manufacture. Y

My improved shoes maybe worn on'the carpet without liability of injurythereto, for the reasonthat, althoughthe prongs'slightly project intothe carpetiugwhen' the weight 'of the body is borne by the shoe, yet,when the shoe is raised, the rubber sol through which the prongs.project operates Io detach the carpet from the prongs, thus eeltuallypreventing any`injury to the carpet.

Again, the metallic prongs, slightly projectin g through the outer solewhen in use, serve not only to prevent the' slipping ot the shoe,

but also serve to prptect the sole from undue or unevi wear. The prongedplate may be of light resilient sheet metal, and thus allow of the freespringing movement of the foot,

and also not add materially to the weight of the shoe or boot.

This improvement isV comparatively inexpensive, and is of such simplecharacter that the retail price of such articles as may be furnishedtherewith will not be materially, if at all, affected.

I do not confine myself to the precise method ot' securing the parts ashereinbeforeset forth,

as it is evident that changes in form and manutacture may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

Havingfully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a shoe orother form of outer foot-wear, a yielding metallic plateinterposed v`between the inner and outer layers of the sole, said platehaving teeth or prongs formed thereon, and bent at right angles to theplate, the points ot' the prongs or teeth being iiush with thewearing-surface of the sole, substantially as set forth.y if

In testimony that I claim the foregolngf/I' have hereunto set my handthis-.24th day Of. i

CALVIN E. TowN. 5 i

April, 1878.

Witnesses: 4

F. O. MCCLEARY, D. JOHNSON.

